Buffalo Bills News - July 17, 2002

Tickets For Night Practices And Scrimmage Available Saturday At Tops [1:31 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'The Bills today announced that tickets for the teamís two Monday evening practices during the Buffalo Bills Bausch & Lomb Training Camp will be available to the public starting this Saturday at 9:00 AM at all participating Tops Friendly Markets locations. Also on Saturday, tickets for the teamís scrimmage with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, August 3 will be available.'

Inside slant [8:37 AM]USA Today reports:
After adding so many new faces (44 on the camp roster), what kind of chemistry have the Bills brewed? The 2000 Redskins (8-8) or the 2001 Patriots (Super Bowl champs)?'

PFW: The Way We Hear It [8:26 AM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
'Look for Bills starting OLB Keith Newman to be more of a force in the pass rush this season. The Bills used Newman in that role two seasons ago, and he responded by racking up eight sacks. Last season Newman had only 3 1/2 sacks.'

July 16, 2002

Bills sign rookie free agents Jackson and Bradley [9:35 PM]AP reports:
'The signing of Jackson, a wide receiver and kick returner who played at Syracuse, followed the arrest early Saturday of Charlie Rogers, who was expected to fill those roles for Buffalo this season.'

Chris Brown: DT Evans Not on Bills Radar Screen [9:04 PM]WGR reports:
WGR Sportsradio 55 has learned that the agent for free agent defensive tackle Josh Evans has made contact with the Buffalo Bills to gauge interest in his client. However NFL sources have told WGR 55 that there is not a burning interest on the part of the Bills to add the defensive lineman to their roster.

Bills Sign Pair Of Free Agents [4:24 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills today announced that the team has signed two rookie free agents -- cornerback Jykine Bradley and wide receiver Maurice Jackson.

5th Down: Kelly vs. Marino: The History Of A Rivalry [12:11 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
As Kelly and Marino prepare for their charity flag football game at the University at Buffalo this Sunday, let's revisit the history of their rivalry. What follows is a recap of every game the Bills and Dolphins played between 1986 and 1996 (Kelly's final season).

Clayton: Four teams inquiring about Evans [11:33 AM]ESPN reports:
Now that Josh Evans has learned he won't be suspended for violations of the league's substance abuse policy, he has heard from four teams interested in signing him. The Jets, Bills, Titans and Dolphins called during the past couple of days. Evans is going to take a few days to weigh the offers.

Bills' Rogers charged with punching police officer [9:39 AM]AP reports:
'Buffalo Bills wide receiver Charlie Rogers was charged with punching a police officer at a bar and had to be subdued with pepper spray. Rogers also is accused of spitting at two officers while being processed at police headquarters.

NFL player seized in brawl outside Old Bridge bar [9:29 AM]Newark Star Ledger reports:
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Charlie Rogers was subdued with pepper spray and arrested after police said he punched and spit at a patrolman outside an Old Bridge go-go bar.
Rogers' companion, Tageshia Guarriello, 31, of Edgewater, who was arrested for hindering his apprehension, yesterday said Rogers helped break up a fight in the bar's parking lot before police arrived and was trying to explain that to the officers when one of them punched him.

Pittsford to go long on Bills parade festivities [5:21 AM]D and C reports:
'"We learned something important after last year's Buffalo Bills parade," town Supervisor William Carpenter said. "The crowd wanted the festivities to continue once the parade was over." And this year they will.'

July 15, 2002

Three games down to single seats [8:06 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
As first reported on the Stadium Wall, the Jets, New England and Oakland games down to single seats. The Jets game isn't the only game that is already down to single seats. According Jerry Foran, the Director of Ticket Sales for the Bills, "the Jets, New England and Oakland are all into single seat tickets."

Kent Hull Stunned On Induction To Wall Of Fame [12:47 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Former All-Pro Buffalo Bills center Kent Hull, the leader of the offensive line for the Buffalo Billsí no-huddle offensive and the 19th inductee to the Wall of Fame at Ralph Wilson Stadium this fall, answered your emails in an exclusive interview with buffalobills.com

Wade Phillps converting Atlanta to 3-4 defense [9:42 AM]CNN/SI reports:
Phillips worked roughly the same magic in Buffalo in 1995, coaching a unit that wound up with an NFL-high 49 sacks. Named Buffalo's head coach in 1998, Phillips' defense ranked sixth, first and third overall in his three seasons on the job.

Thursday's Police Report [9:10 AM]Fresno Bee reports:
' Wright arraignment postponed to Sept. 24. An expected court arraignment for former Fresno State football star Rodney Wright, who is accused of a hit-and-run collision in which two people in another vehicle were injured, failed to happen Wednesday since no formal charges have been filed.'

DWI charge brought in Hamburg crash [9:09 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The man was charged with drunken driving and various traffic violations. He told officers he was on his way home from Ralph Wilson Stadium, where he had been since 1:30 a.m. drinking and waiting to buy Bills tickets, police said.'

July 14, 2002

Pasquarelli: Best RB depth in the league? [8:39 PM]ESPN reports:
The winner? In a close call, we're making it Buffalo over Pittsburgh, once again because the Steelers' Jerome Bettis must prove he is beyond a 2001 groin injury. Buffalo is actually four-deep at tailback, with Travis Henry, Sammy Morris, Shawn Bryson and Richard Huntley. And that doesn't even count Curtis Alexander, who had a terrific season in NFL Europe this spring, but probably won't make the roster. The tailbacks are augmented by venerable fullback Larry Centers, never much more than an adequate blocker, but still one of the NFL's premier receivers out of the backfield, even at age 34.

Hall of Fame class names presenters [4:52 PM]CNN/SI reports:
Jim Kelly will be introduced by his former head coach Marv Levy. It was an easy choice for the former Buffalo Bills quarterback. Kelly and Levy directed the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.

Chris Brown: Rookie signing updates from TD [4:51 PM]WGR reports:
TD talked with Mike Shopp about the status of signing the 6 unsigned draftees. No real suprises--expect the lower round draftees to sign this week with the top 3 lagging into the end of the week or early next week. Sounds like the potential for hold-outs is pretty minimal. Because of the rookie cap the sides start a lot closer financially than they did in the pre-cap years. Length of contract and guaranteed money are the negotiating points.

Ruben Brown scores again for Salvation Army [11:23 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Just one week after Ruben's Run, the huge, annual motorcycle event that Ruben Brown has created to benefit the Salvation Army, Ruben Brown took his mission to the Salvation Army Youth Programs. On Wednesday, July 3, 190 boys and girls from the Buffalo and Rochester Salvation Army Youth Programs gathered at Ralph Wilson Stadium to experience Ruben Brown's Youth Football Camp.

Buffalo Bills summer reading program concluded Monday [11:21 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills and UPS will host the final two Hit the Books events this Monday, July 15th. The first will be at 2:00 PM at the Richmond Memorial Library located at 19 Ross Street in Batavia and the second will be at 4:00 PM at the Lee-Whedon Memorial Library located at 620 West Avenue in Medina.

Levy to present Kelly in Hall of Fame [11:19 AM]Pro Football Hall Of Fame reports:
The Pro Hall of Fame announced what was known for weeks that Marv Levy, previous year Hall of Fame inductee, will be presenter for Jim Kelly.

July 13, 2002

Some notes on Bills’ tickets 'n special rates [5:18 AM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'Tickets can be purchased four ways: at the Ralph Wilson Stadium box office, at participating Tops Friendly Markets, via the team's web site (www.buffalobills.com) or by phone (1-877-228-4257).'

Contract talks with Williams should pick up [12:34 AM]The Sporting News reports:
The Bills have a good track record of getting their top pick to camp on time. Last year's No. 1, CB Nate Clements, was a brief holdout, but it obviously didn't hinder his performance that much. However, it's imperative that Williams is in camp from day one. The 6-5, 370-pound OT from the University of Texas is slated to start at right tackle. The Bills could have as many as three new starters (last year's right tackle Jonas Jennings has moved to center) on the offensive line, so they need the five men up front to get as much work together as possible this summer to develop continuity.

Lary Bump: Can Bledsoe avoid a pass rush? [12:24 AM]Shout! reports:
This once would have been the $64,000 question, though in these inflated days, it's probably more like the one-billion-dollar question. The answer is simple: no.